-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ShhWijKOjoEinzhanmc2ExN86IrHPFpHsAJlg6/INJVeGcbHpa/5aB+/qU3Yc0Dp
 JqI1t8HovUV++PCjWp2UWQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000202890-04-000035.txt : 20040402
<SEC-HEADER>0000202890-04-000035.hdr.sgml : 20040402
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040402082841
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000202890-04-000035
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040331
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040402

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IMCO RECYCLING INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000202890
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SECONDARY SMELTING & REFINING OF NONFERROUS METALS [3341]
		IRS NUMBER:				752008280
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5215 N OCONNOR BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75039
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9724017200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5215 N OCONNOR BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75039

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FRONTIER TEXAS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19881012

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PIONEER TEXAS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850416

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALKCOM JOHN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001273401

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07170
		FILM NUMBER:		04711261

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5215 M P'CONNOR BLVD., STE 1500
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75039
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001273401d20040402f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000202890</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IMCO RECYCLING INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IMR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001273401</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BALKCOM JOHN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5215 NORTH O'CONNOR BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75039-</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-03-31</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>318</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>621</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Award of stock as a portion of Director's fees payment pursuant to IMCO Recycling Inc. Annual Incentive Program in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeffrey S. Mecom, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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